Water heating and circulating device



July 3, 1934.v

A. A. WEINBERG 1,964,838

WATER HEATING AND CIRCULATING DEVICE.

Filed May 51. 1932 INVENTIOR HT-roRA/Ey i atented July 3, 1934 WATERHEATING AND CIRGULATING DEVIGE Abraham A. Weinberg, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 31, 1932, Serial No. 614,467

3 Claims. (01. 261-47) This invention relates to water heaters and moreparticularly to hot water circulating heaters, although certain featuresthereof may be employed with equal advantage for other pur- Itcontemplates more especially the provision of means for injecting a heatmedium such as steam into a system for circulation through a water tankto uniformly elevate the temperaly ture of its contents incident toeffecting thora tank which is situated upon or proximate to the roof ofthe building structure.

This requires heat to be supplied from a remote source, and it has beenfound efficacious to employ steam both as a heating and circulatingmedium.

Then, too, waste energy mediums such as the exhaust of steam engines andthe condensate of steam heated machines such as laundry ironers, may beutilized to a great advantage in elevating the temperature of water forcommercial laundry use.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the structure andimprove the operation of devices of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide a means for injecting a heat medium such assteam together with waste heat energy, ordinarily available anddiscarded, into a water tankto elevate the temperature of the contentsas well as to effect the complete circulation thereof.

Still another object is the provision of means for effecting completecomingling between the particles of water confined in a tank incident toimparting an elevated temperature thereto.

A still further object is to provide a laundry hot water feeder systemwith a steam injector having means in association therewith forimparting twirling movement and circulation to water.

Still a further object is to provide a helical deflector plate in thepath of injected steam for imparting twirling movement to the waterwhich is 'comingled therewith for circulation and temperature elevation.

Other objects and advantages will appear from thefo'llowing descriptionof an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a sectional view in elevation of a water tank with itsaccessory connections embodying features of the present invention forsupplying hot water to any suitable location responsive to the gravitydischarge thereof.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a steam injector embodying features ofthe present invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along line IIIIII ofFigure 2.

The structure selected for illustration comprises a water tank of anysuitable configuration and size to meet the requirements of anyparticular installation or commercial enterprise such as a laundry wherehot water is used in abundance. The tank 10 is supported in an elevatedposition by any suitable structure such as the roof 11 of a buildingstructure wherein the requirements for hot water are supplied by thetank 10. The tank 10 is furnished with water which passes from a sourceof supply through a pipe 12 having the discharge end thereof incommunication with a valve housing 13 fitted with a float control 14responsive to the water level 15 in the tank 10. Thus, the water level15 in the tank 10 is maintained substantially uniform.

As shown, the valve housing 13 communicates with a pipe passage 16 whichhas connection with a down-flow mixing pipe 1'7 through the medium of abranched coupler 18. The vertical mixing pipe 1'7 preferably terminatesin a ,T-dnion 19 which has horizontal water issuing arms 20 and 21 todistribute the flow of water from the supply pipe 12 to all portions ofthe tank 10. Brackets 22 are attached to the bottom of the tank 10 forvertically upward support to engage the arms 20 and 21, therebymaintaining the pipe 1'7 vertically erect against displacement. Suitablyshaped elbows 23 may be detachably connected to the arms 20 and21 todirect the issuing water along a varied circuitous path within the tank10.

In order to utilize the waste heat in the exhaus't gases of steamengines usually constituting the source of mechanical power inlaundries, the engine exhaust communicates with a pipe 24 which isdirected to the interior of the tank 10. An exhaust manifold 25 may bepositioned in the tank 10 below the water level 15 for connection withthe pipe 24, the other end of the manifold 25 having a pipe 26connected-therewith for communication with'another branch of thecoupler-18. Thus the exhaust heat of the steam engine maybe absorbed bythe water commingling' therewith as such passes through the supply pipe12 to the mixing pipe 17.

As is customary, all laundry machines such as steam heated ironers, areequipped with steam traps to collect the condensate which is depositedtherein. The condensate is possessed of heat energy which may also beutilized in elevating the temperature of the water supplied to the tank10. This is accomplished by collecting the condensate from all sourcesof supply in a laundry, and causing the fiow thereof through a pipe 27which terminates in the water line 16 by connection thereto through apipe elbow 28 prior to entry within the mixing pipe 17. This tends toelevate the temperature of the water issuing through the pipe 16 foreventual passage through the mixing pipe 17. In consequence thereof,water is supplied to the tank 10 at a temperature above the temperatureof the water supply, thereby requiring less heat from an auxiliarythermal producing medium. A discharge pipe 29 communicates with thebottom of the tank 10 to effect the gravity discharge of the water fromthe tank 10 to any suitable appliance such,

as washing machines wherein hot water is necessary for cleansingoperation. A valve 30 is placed in the discharge pipe line 29 toregulate the flow therethrough.

Obviously, it is necessary or at least highly desirable that the waterconfined within the tank 10 be circulated during the heating thereof toeffect temperature elevation to the required degree prior to dischargethrough the valved pipe 29. To this end, a pipe 31 is disposed invertical spaced parallelism with the side of the tank 10 so that anormally directed extension 32 thereof will provide a depending portion33 which communicates with the interior of the tank 10, it being notedthat the depending portion 33 is in threaded engagement with a branch 34of the coupler 18, thereby leading directly to the mixwater particlesduring the subjection thereof to a heating medium to be hereinafterdescribed.

The heating medium, in this instance, comprises steam which is suppliedfrom any suitable source through a pipe 37 which is comparatively muchsmaller in diameter than the pipe 31 for axial projection therethrough.The steam injecting'pipe 37 has an extension 33 which is projectedthrough a flange 39 in threaded engagement therewith, there being a nutin engagement with the pipe extension 38 to contact the flange 39 inmaintaining the axial alignment and communication of the injector tube38 within the pipe 31. The injector tube 38 is confined within the union36 for partial extension within'the pipe 31 (Figure 2) which is joinedthereto by welding or otherwise to provide a rigid hermetically sealedjoint 41. As a result the steam fiowing through the pipe 37 passesthrough the injector tube 38 for discharge within the pipe 31 which isfilled with water from the bottom region of the tank 10, therebyeffecting the passage thereof upwardlyv for discharge from the,extremity 33 to the top region of the mixer pipe 1? 0 so that endlesscirculation is established therein to the end of effecting completecommingling between the water particles during the subjection thereof tothe steam which serves as a heatin medium therefor, thereby elevatingthe temperature to a degree required for its intended purpose.

In order to impart twirling movement to the water in conjunction withthe steam which serves as the vehicle therefor, adefiector plate 42 isfixed to the interior of the pipe 31 in the path of the discharge end ofthe injector tube 38 so as to compel the steam and water to follow atortuous path. In the present embodiment the deflector plate 42 is ofhelical configuration to accomplish twirling movement of the waterduring its linear traverse through the pipe 31 for continuouscirculation from and to the bottom and top regions, respectively, of thetank 10.

With the arrangement of parts above described, it will be apparent thatnovel means have been provided to impart an elevated temperature towater during the circulatory movement and particle comingling thereof toeffect uniform temperature elevation. This is especially efficacious insituations of the character mentioned in that the water confining tankis at a point remote from any possible heating medium, therebyefficiently raising the temperature of the water to meet therequirements of commercial practice. Then, too, all available heat whichis ordinarily wasted, is utilized for a productive purpose. Ob viously,the degree of temperature elevation depends upon the quantity of steaminjected during any predetermined interval of time and for that reasonregulation is found necessary or at least highly desirable. To this end,a thermostat 43 of standard construction is fixed to the tank 10 forprojection therethrough for direct subjection to the water confinedtherein. The thermostat controls are confined ina casing 44 which areoperatively connected with a valve 45 in the steam supply tube or pipe37. In consequence thereof, the thermostat 43 which may be set torespond at any predetermined temperature, controls the position of thevalve 45 for regulating the passage of steam through the pipe 37,thereby controlling the temperature elevation within the requireddegree.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinspecifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a water heater, the combination with a tank for confining watertherein, of a water supply line in communication with said tank, a floatcontrol in said water supply line, means for enabling the discharge ofwater from said tank, steam injector means in communication with 5 saidtank, means for conveying steam engine exhausts into said tank, meansfor imparting a twirling movement to said steam for uniformly elevatingthe temperature of the water therein, and thermostatic means, responsiveto the temperature of the water to control said steam in-. jector means.

-2. In a water heater, the combination with a tank for confining watertherein, of a Water supply line in communication with said tank, meansfor enabling the discharge of water from said tank, means for conveyingwaste steam condensate to said tank, other means for discharging steamengine exhausts into .said tank for cir-- culation with thewater supplyresponsive to a steam injector means, and means for injecting steam insaid tank for circulating the water therein to serve as a heating mediumtherefor, said steam injecting means comprising a pipe in circulatingcommunication with the interior of said tank, a steam injector axiallydisposed in said pipe for circulating the Water of said tanktherethrough, and a helical deflector Within said pipe in the path ofsaid steam injector.

3. In a water heater, the combination with a tank for confining watertherein, of a water supply line in communication with said tank,

